Masked gunmen have attacked Garissa University College in Kenya, scores are reported injured. Gunshots and explosions have been heard from inside, and those calling from the university claim to have witnessed many casualties.
Official report of current status vide Garissa attack. Thank
you for your support. pic.twitter.com/I08RUALlFG
— Joseph Boinnet (@JBoinnet) April
2, 2015
“Two guards who were manning the gate at the university have
been killed. We can hear gunshots from inside the compound but at
this point we can’t tell who is shooting at who or what,” a
policewoman told Reuters.
#GarissaAttack
According to CEC Health 30 casualties taken to hospital. 4 are
very serious. Majority of Casualties have gunshot wounds.
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) April
2, 2015
At least twenty-nine people have been injured in the attack, four
of them critically, Kenya’s disaster officials said.
#Alert: Armed
attack at Garissa University College. @EMS_Kenya and #RedCross
Garissa team at scene. Updates to follow
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) April
2, 2015
The gunmen allegedly entered the university as students were
heading to morning prayers, Standard Media outlet reported. The
attackers reportedly posed as worshipers among the students, and
then started shooting at them indiscriminately.
Students who escaped the attack have told security forces there
are at least five gunmen, holding many others as hostages inside.
Conflicting reports on
Twitter put the death toll at seven.
“@InsecurityKE:
Military – hostages still inside as dozens rescued. Ongoing
gunfire area now cordoned off. #prayforGarissa@DennisOkari”
— Serve My Country (@GKKiarie) April
2, 2015
According to some accounts, the gunmen were also wearing suicide
vests.
A heavy police and military presence is seen near the university.
No one has claimed responsible for the events.
Just over a week ago a terror threat alert was issued for Kenyan
universities, Twitter users report.
#Garissa:
Their was intelligence of a pending attack targeting a
University pic.twitter.com/r1FofQK0hq
— Francis Waithaka (@waithash) April
2, 2015
Local senior security officials confirmed the assault on the
university, saying there have been threats from a terror group.
“We had the threats earlier on and alerted the institutions
here,” said an anonymous security official, as quoted by
Standard Media.
In the past, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Somali terror group
Al-Shabaab has conducted several attacks in Garissa and
throughout Kenya, the biggest assault being an attack on a
shopping mall in Nairobi in 2013.
4 days ago USIU issued this security alert and University of
Nairobi also. #GarissaAttackpic.twitter.com/6rv6P3iIQU
— Robert ALAI (@RobertAlai) April
2, 2015